Female employees prioritise on health: Survey

As employers look for new ways to improve the health and wellbeing of their workforce, a survey from Aon Hewitt, states that female employees are more concerned about their health and place a higher priority on staying healthy than their male counterparts.

However, they are also more likely to view personal stress, affordability and lack of employer support as obstacles to improving their personal health. 

The 2014 Consumer Health Mindset survey, which analysed responses from more than 2,700 US employees and their dependents covered by employer-sponsored health plans, shows marked differences in the perspectives, behaviors and attitudes that male and female employees display towards their health and wellbeing.  

The survey found that 65 percent of female employees feel they have control over their health compared to 50 percent of males. Female employees are also more likely to recognise key activities as important to their health and wellness. For example, 73 percent of females feel managing their emotional health and their stress levels are important to their overall health, compared to 54 percent and 57 percent of males, respectively. In addition, 67 percent of females believe getting routine medical screenings is an important factor in maintaining their health, compared to only 52 percent of males.